Squeeze bottle nebulizer



June 18, 1957 B. L. MGKINNON sQUEEzE BOTTLE NEBULIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 15, 1954 MO KINNON INVENTOR.

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BAIN L. MC KINNON ydispersion as a result.

United States Patent O SQUEEZE BOTTLE NEBULIZER Bain L. McKinnon, Seattle, Wash.

Application October 15, 1954, Serial No. 462,424

Claims. (Cl. 299-88) This present invention relates to the general art of nebulizers and more particularly to a nebulizer head especially arranged for association with .the polyethylene squeeze bottle as now established on the market. In order to be practically associated with the polyethylene type of bottle, the parts of this nebulizer are also preferably made of plastic material despite itsjinherent limitations in design. Arrangements are made, however, to first produce a primary mixture of liquid and air and this is lfurther diluted and emulsied at 'high turbulence in a small emulsion chamber. Communication is then made from this relatively small emulsion chamber to a larger chamber wherein a true nebulizing action .takes place and iinally the spray is projected from the outlet oriice as .a very ne aerosol which lends i-tself to broad application including use with solutions of adrenaline, as used in the treatment of asthma, or for the projection of very fine sprays of .the more expensive perfumes.

Atomizing devices that are currently being used with the polyethylene form of distortable bottle have been able to produce only comparatively coarse sprays. These sprays are suitable for certain applications but fail entirely when used in the treatment of asthma and for like respiratory diseases. Further, because of the expense of the basic perfumes, it has not been practical with normal procedures to use the plastic form of atomizers for the projection `of perfume mist. Adaptation of the nebulizer to polyethylene squeeze bottle spray devices of this type has been hindered because of inherent Ilimitations of size and requirement of adequate and positive closure. In this present nebul-izer, steps have been taken to produce tirst a high order of dispersion of the liquid in air and then to project this into the nebulizing chamber in which sible -to produce an eective device at a low cost and soll ,i

suited to commercial product marketing practice as to attain general and widespread use.

An object of my present invention therefore is to provide a nebulizer adaptable to use integral with the present polyethylene squeeze bottles.

A further object of this invention is to provide as an elemental component, an atomizer of superior character for the production of a line spray.

A `further object of my present invention is to provide a complex jet system where a primary mixture of liquid and air is made rst, and this is -further emulsied in a chamber and then mixed with secondary air, whereupon this turbulent emulsion is forced through the main spray jet.

A further object of this present invention is to provider means for lowering the liquidto air ratios'of the primary spray and concurrent increased dispersion and in this manner to obtain a Vgreater quantity of usable aerosol A further object of this invention is to provide a com-V Y Y, 2,796,294 Patented June 18, 1957 ICC pact, simple to use nebulizer that is convenient to carry and is positively leakproof in its carrying condition.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apf parent from the description and `disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the ldevice.

lIn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a squeeze bottle nebulizer made after the teachings of this present invention;

lFigure Z is a vertical cross sectional vi-ew made along the major axis ofthe bottle associated with this nebulizer;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken at right angles to the View `of Figure 2 as along the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross lsectional view of the foot valve in the end of the liquid supply tube;

Figure 5 is a typical cross sectional view through the nebulizer head employed in this device;

Figure 6 i-s a cross sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertica-l sectional View taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the deflector or impingement ltarget used in this device.

Referring more particularly to the ydisclosure in the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the stopper member forming the general base upon which the nebulizer head is assembled. This member has a generally cylindrical portion 12 adapted to be seated snugly in the neck portion 14 of a polyethylene `bottle 16. At its upper end the stopper member is provided with a nebulizing chamber 1S of considerable volume and extending down into this chamber is 'a generally conical discharge tube member 2t) at the extreme inner end of which is the outlet orice 22.

yEnclosing the stopper member largely is the closure eap 24. This cap is provided with a detent portion 26 of a conformation adapted' to form a complete seal for the discharge openings 20 and to thereby seal orifice 22. To insure a complete closure at this point and one that will not become displaced, interior threads as 28 are formed in the plastic material yand these engage complementary threads 30 formed as part of neck 14 of the bottle 16. ln order that there would be no downward displacement of the stopper member when pressure is applied on these threads, an annular ange is provided as 32 to arrest any such movement and to prov-ide a still more secure seal.

Firmly seated within the cylindrical portion of stopper 10 is the main jet member 36. At its upper end member 36 is provided with a conical depression as 3S and disposed concentr-ically therewith but oppositely faced, is a second conical chamber 40. Communicating between chambers 40 and Idepression 38 is the main jet orifice 42. The main extent of the lower portion of member 36 is formed as a cylindrical recess 45 in which is seated the emulsion jet member 43. Reference to Figure 6 will indicate these forms, the cross sectional form of member 48 being provided wi-th the bearing portions as 50 and the air passageways 52. At their upper ends, passageways 52 are faired into the conical chamber 40 as is indicated at 54. Actual control of the tlow of air through passageways 52 is controlled by the amount of clearance provided at these points which in turn provides the control on the liquid to air ratio that will be obtained in the nal discharge spray.

Disposed within a cylindrical bore, axially disposed with respect to member 48 is the liquid supply tube 60. This tube is spaced away from the cylindrical wall portions of the bore -in member 48 as by a plurality of lands 62 so that in effect a plurality of air passageways, as 64,

is provided. The liquid which is forced upward through tube 6i) is discharged into a nozzle-like conical tube 66. Here again clearance is provided, as at 68, so that air driven up through passageways 64 may enter the emulsifying chamber i-it. it rst, however, mixes in chamber 66 with the -liquid passing upward through tube 60 and then yit passes through nozzle-lil e chamber 66, through orifice 70, out through the inverted conical discharge passage 72.

ln order to prevent a direct blow through the nebulizer head and out orifice 22, a bafiie Si) is provided. This is formed preferably as a triangular element extending out into the jet stream and a preferred form is generally shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8. This form also acts as a disintegrator.

The action of tube 6@ and flask i6 is similar, to a degree, to a Florence flask in that pressure is placed on the contents of the flexible bottle 16 by manual pressure and the liquid is forced up and out tube 60. A foot valve 252 is provided for tube 6b and an enlarged portion 84 is provided in the bottom of bottle i6 to accommodate and position it. This valve normally operates at or near the end of a cycle to prevent an unwanted surge of liquid which may be caused by syphon action, once a fast fiow of liquid is started. At such times the movable valve member 86 is mechanically carried upwardly until it seats on valve seat 88. When the excess draft is checked the valve is released and falls, by gravity, from the seat. The enlargement 84 gives an outside visual and feelable indicator of the yside of the bottle which should be held downmost when in use.

Mode f operation When the type of liquid that is going to be used in the device has been determined, the size of the various oriiices then should be balanced against the amount of liquid that it is desired to deliver on each cycle of operation. If the device is to be used with adrenaline, or perfume, then a recommended size for the various orifices will be orifice '70, a diameter of .020 inch; for main jet orifice 42, a diameter `of .025 inch and for the outlet oritice a diameter of .035 inch. it is to be remembered that if the orifice size is too large, then too large a volume of liquid will be delivered for the same to be fully broken down into the fine mist desired.

in the operation of the device, the initial expulsion force is provided by squeezing the distortable polyethylene bottle as by finger pressure. If the bottle were entirely full of liquid of course the energy would be expended against the liquid itself, therefore the bottle should contain no more than about two-thirds of its capacity in liquid. There is a quantity of air contained in the bottle in addition to the liquid so the pressure is expended in compressing this air and the air in turn forces the liquid up through the delivery or feed tube 6d. The same force that compresses the air tends to drive the air up through tne two sets of air passages provided, the larger passages as 52, and the smaller passageways as 64. lt is the air driven up through passageways 64 that first meets the liquid `being fed through tube 60 and this meeting occurs in the mixing chamber jet 66 where an emulsification of the liquid begins. This rich mixture `of liquid and air is forced up through the mixing jet and is there introduced into the primary mixing chamber 72 and then into the main emulsiiication chamber (it). It is to be noted that the amount of air supplied through passageways 52 will normally he greater than that supplied through passage- Ways 64. In chamber 40 the emulsilication is completed and the product discharged through the main atomizing jet having orifice 42.

There is now present a mechanical mixture of finely divided liquid with a high percentage of air and this is propelled with force into the nebulizing chamber 18 and as pressure is built up in the same, the turbulent lmixture in aerosol form is discharged out through the outlet orifice 22 with the heavier particles impinging upon Vthe cone-like surface 20. The larger particles of liquid either collect on the walls of chamber 18 or are held in suspension where `they normally will be further vaporized and eventually passed out through the outlet orifice. In order to prevent a direct blow through from the main jet tube to the outlet orifice, a baflie member 30 is nterposed so that any large globules of liquid will impinge thereon and will not be mechanically carried out through the outlet orifice.

When the requireddelivery is made from the nebulizer and the cycle is complete, a release of the pressure on the squeezed bottle will permit the bottle to return to its normal form and this will cause a thrust back through the various orifices. This usually will clean out of the nebulizing chamber any liquid remaining therein. If the device is to be carried in the pocket, then the closure cap 24 should be put in ,place after the showing of Figure 5 and screwed down until detent 26 fully seals any discharge out through `outlet orifice 22. The cap normally is left in place until it is desired to use the device again at which time of `course it must be removed before starting the cycle. This device serves as an efficient atomizer, for ycertain uses 4not requiring a vfine aerosol, if the nebulizer chamber 18 is removed from the device.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a `squeeze bottle nebulizer.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. A hand spraying device such as a nebulizer or the like, comprising: a plastic squeeze bot-tle having an upywardly open mouth and a stopper positioned in said mouth, a removable cap covering and sealing said stopper and bottle mouth, said stopper being 4hollow and having formed therein in its upper portion a large primary chamlber and a narrow-mouthed outlet orifice at lthe apex of said chamber, said `stopper having a partition closin-g the bottom of said large chamber forming a smaller mixing chamber therebelow vand said partition having a narrowmouthed inlet orifice to said primary chamber, means forming the `bottom of said lower chamber and having air and liquid passageways to .the lower chamber, and said liquid passageway including a tube extending to the bottom yof said bottle vto provide a source `of liquid to said lower chamber and including a valve acting by the rforce of liquid flow to terminate `supply of liquid to said lower chamber shortly after the commencing of liquid flow, the bottom of said lbottle forming 'a liquid reservioir to supply said tube. Y

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said tube is flexible and said valve is afoot valve at the lower end of said tube formed by a sleeve capping the lower end of said tube 'and having a tapered valve seat immediately below said tube and a floating valve below said valve seat in said sleeve with a tapered upper end to be carried upward by liquid passing to said tube t-o seal against said valve seat rby means of the [tapered valve and seat surfaces shortly after the commence of liquid flow.

V3. The subject matter of claim l in which said stopper has a domed top and said top having in its center an in- Awardly extending conoidal recess formed by a conoidal separator wall extending into said primary chamber and said outlet orifice being centered therein and said cap :has a conoidal detent positioned in said recess sealing Ithe outlet orifice when in place, the cap and squeeze bottle mouth having inter-engaging threads and said stopper having abutment means acting on the upper edge of said lbottle mouth to prevent escape of the stopper relative the bottle as said cap presses said detent in said recess.

4. The subject matter of claim l in which between said outlet and inlet oriiices there is positioned .a baiiie target having a triangular `cross section in the direction between the oriiices with the triangle base facing said inlet ori- Jtice, the target being pyramidal in shape with its apex extending slightly beyond the l-ine between the orifices from a wall of said stopper.

5. 'Iihe subject matter of claim 1 vin which partition means form an emulsion chamber, below said lower mixing chamber and immediately above the upper end of sai-d tube, into which the liquid from said tube is passed and there being air inlet means to the emulsion chamber of less size than the air passageways to said lower chamber whereby an emulsion is produced in said emulsion charnber before the mixture of air and liquid therein is introduced to said lower chamber, there being a restricted oritice between said emulsion and lower chambers.

6. A nebulizer body yto lit in vthe neck of a bottle, comprising: an inverted cup-shaped stopper with annular exterior walls adapted to be positioned in such neck, ythe lower inner walls of said stopper being annular and a thimble-lilee main jet positioned in the lower portion of said stopper and spaced from the top of said stopper deining a large primary mix-ing chamber therebetween, a lower emulsion jet member positioned in the lower portion of said main jet member and deiining a second chamber below said primary chamber and above said emulsion jet member, means forming a passageway for liquid from the base of such bottle to said emulsion jet member and means forming a passageway for air from the tcp of such bottle to said emulsion jet member and three aligned oriiices in the upper walls of said stopper, main jet member, and emulsion jet member, a nebulizer balie target between the two upper orifices in said primary chamber and an in- Awardly extending wall around the oriiice in the upper wall of said stopper acting as a separator.

7. Nebulizer means 'to be fitted in the mouth of a squeeze bottle providing a source of air under pressure, comprising: an inverted cup-shaped stopper adapted to be positioned in the mouth of such bottle and having an outlet orifice at its top, a thimble-like main jet member positioned in the lower portion of said stopper defining a primary mix-ing chamber thereabove, the top of said main jet member having a discharge orifice, an emulsion jet member positioned in the lower portion of said main (jet member deining a secondary chamber -thereabove and having a central passageway and a liquid supply tube positioned in said emulsion jet member, said emulsion jet member having a conical chamber immediately above the upper end of sai-d tube and having air passageways therein to be supplied by such bottle communicating with said coni-cal chamber, said emulsion jet member having an egress orice at the top of said conical chamber and passageway means for providing air to said secondary chamber from said bottle.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 in which said emulsion jet member has an inverted conical recess in its top in which said egress orilice is centered forming a subsidiary chamber in the base of said secondary chamber.

9. A hand spraying device such as a neb'ulizer or the like, comprising: a plastic squeeze bottle, the lower portion of said bottle forming a liquid reservoir and the upper portion of said bottle forming an air chamber, said bottle having an upwardly open mouth and a stopper positioned in said mouth, said stopper being hollow and having formed therein in its upper portion a mixing chamber, said stopper having a domed top and said top having at its center an inwardly tapered recess formed by a wall extending downwardly into `said mixing chamber and having an outlet orice centered therein, a removabile cap covering and sealing said stopper and bottle mouth, said cap having a downwardly -tapered detent positioned in said recesses sealing the outlet orifice when in place, the cap and squeeze bottle mouth having inter-engaging threads,

and jet means lin the lower portion of said stopper connecting to the inside of said bottle for supply of liquid and air therefrom and directing a mixed ystream of liquid and air into said mixing chamber upon squeezing of said bottle.

10. A nebuiizer, comprising: a housing forming a mixing chamber having an outlet orifice in one end and having jet means at its other end, said jet means including a liquid reservoir and manuallly operable means for supplying liquid from reservoir to said chamber under pressure and a source of air to be mixed with said liquid, and a nebulizer baffle target positioned in said chamber having a triangular cross section in the direction between said orifice and said jet means, the target being pyramidal in shape with its apex extending slightly beyond said line between said orifice and said jet means.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,556 Holland Oct. 29, 1912 2,571,504 Vuillemenot Oct. 16, 1951 2,615,676 Neubauer Oct. 28, 1952 2,654,585 Heesen Oct. 6, 1953 2,663,463 Benbury Dec. 22, 1953 2,695,813 Risanowski Nov. 30, 1954 FORElGN PATENTS 482,881 Canada Apr. 29, 1952 

